David L. McCoubrey

David L. McCoubrey, 84, of Wayland, MA., died peacefully on April 9. He is lovingly remembered by his children, Catherine, Anne, and David, their spouses, and his grandchildren, David, Jessica, Nathan, Elijah, Brenna, and Owen. He grew up in Watertown with his brother, John, and they enjoyed watching steamships pass Castle Island in Boston Harbor with their parents on Sunday afternoons. David was also much loved by his nieces and nephews; Daniel, Stephen, John, Hannah, Sarah, and Peter McCoubrey, and their families. He shared Thanksgiving dinners and Easter picnics with them in Philadelphia for over 30 years. David attended Northfield Mt. Hermon, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and Boston University. He sailed with the Merchant Marines and was in Calcutta on the day that India became independent of Great Britain. David was also a Naval officer and navigator on an ammunition ship in the Korean War. Afterward, David contributed to the early success of Sports Illustrated as director of market research and later as New England ad director. He also led the Lantern Club for NE advertising professionals with national magazines. David was passionate about sports; he especially loved watching baseball and playing golf, and he proudly attended the Masters Tournament for 19 years. David was a long-time member of the Weston Golf Club where he was a donkey among elephants. David and his former wife, Virginia McCoubrey, started their family on Long Island where they co-founded the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship at Muttontown. They also hosted an annual hootenanny to raise funds for the NAACP. The family moved to Wayland in 1967 and enjoyed summers on Cape Cod. David battled against alcoholism and rebuilt his life by attending countless AA meetings and working the 12-Step program with the aid of his family and friends. He celebrated nearly 30 years of sobriety and continued to extend his support to others who struggled. David always relished opportunities to tell a story or show people around his beloved Boston, whose streets he learned as a cab driver in his student days. He also had a passion for politics; he was particularly insightful with demographic information and was deeply distressed by the growing economic divide. David sustained many friendships over the years, including parenting with Virginia. He followed the lives of his children, his brothers children, and all their children avidly, offering love and encouragement. He will be carried in their hearts and remembered at a memorial gathering at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Wayland on Sunday, May 27, at 4:00 pm. All are welcome. Donations may be made in his name to the Francis Ouimet Caddy Scholarship Fund at www.outmet.org or to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532.